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// CODE SNIPPET

Section E3902 Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection

2015 Virginia Residential Code > 39 Power and Lighting Distribution > E3902 Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection
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E3902.1 Bathroom Receptacles

125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in bathrooms shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(1)]

E3902.2 Garage and Accessory Building Receptacles

125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles installed in garages and grade-level portions of unfinished accessory buildings used for storage or work areas shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(2)]

E3902.3 Outdoor Receptacles

125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed outdoors shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(3)]

Exception: Receptacles as covered in Section E4101.7. [210.8(A)(3) Exception]

E3902.4 Crawl Space Receptacles

Where a crawl space is at or below grade level, 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in such spaces shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(4)]

E3902.5 Unfinished Basement Receptacles

125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in unfinished basements shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. For purposes of this section, unfinished basements are defined as portions or areas of the basement not intended as habitable rooms and limited to storage areas, work areas, and similar areas. [210.8(A)(5)]

Exception: A receptacle supplying only a permanently installed fire alarm or burglar alarm system. Receptacles installed in accordance with this exception shall not be considered as meeting the requirement of Section E3901.9. [210.8(A)(5) Exception]

E3902.6 Kitchen Receptacles

125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles that serve countertop surfaces shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(6)]

E3902.7 Sink Receptacles

125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles that are located within 6 feet (1829 mm) of the outside edge of a sink shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. Receptacle outlets shall not be installed in a face-up position in the work surfaces or countertops. [210.8(A)(7)]

E3902.8 Bathtub or Shower Stall Receptacles

125-volt, single phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles that are located within 6 feet (1829 mm) of the outside edge of a bathtub or shower stall shall have ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(8)]

E3902.9 Laundry Areas

125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in laundry areas shall have ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(9)]

E3902.10 Kitchen Dishwasher Branch Circuit

Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection shall be provided for outlets that supply dishwashers in dwelling unit locations. [210.8(D)]

E3902.11 Boathouse Receptacles

125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-ampere receptacles installed in boathouses shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel. [210.8(A)(8)]

E3902.12 Boat Hoists

Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel shall be provided for 240-volt and less outlets that supply boat hoists. [210.8(C)]

E3902.13 Electrically Heated Floors

Ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel shall be provided for electrically heated floors in bathrooms, kitchens and in hydromassage bathtub, spa and hot tub locations. [424.44(G)]

E3902.14 Location of Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters

Ground-fault circuit interrupters shall be installed in a readily accessible location. [210.8(A)]

E3902.15 Location of Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters

Arc-fault circuit interrupters shall be installed in readily accessible locations.

E3902.16 Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection

AMENDMENT
This section has been amended at the state or city level.
Branch circuits that supply 120-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere outlets installed in kitchens, family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreations rooms, closets, hallways, laundry areas and similar rooms or areas shall be protected by any of the following: [210.12(A)]
  1. A listed combination-type arc-fault circuit interrupter, installed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit. [210.12(A)(1)]
  2. A listed branch/feeder-type AFCI installed at the origin of the branch-circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit. The first outlet box in the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet of the circuit. [210.12(A)(2)]
  3. A listed supplemental arc protection circuit breaker installed at the origin of the branch circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit where all of the following conditions are met:
    1. The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.
    2. The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.
    3. The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the circuit. [210.12(A)(3)]
  4. A listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet on the branch circuit in combination with a listed branch-circuit overcurrent protective device where all of the following conditions are met:
    1. The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.
    2. The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.
    3. The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the circuit.
    4. The combination of the branch-circuit overcurrent device and outlet branch-circuit AFCI shall be identified as meeting the requirements for a system combination-type AFCI and shall be listed as such. [210.12(A)(4)]
  5. Where metal outlet boxes and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT, Type MC or steel-armored Type AC cables meeting the requirements of Section E3908.8, metal wireways or metal auxiliary gutters are installed for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed outlet branch-circuit type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit. [210.12(A)(5)]
  6. Where a listed metal or nonmetallic conduit or tubing or Type MC cable is encased in not less than 2 inches (50.8 mm) of concrete for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed outlet branch-circuit type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit. [210.12(A)(6)]
Exception: AFCI protection is not required for an individual branch circuit supplying only a fire alarm system where the branch circuit is wired with metal outlet and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT or steel-sheathed armored cable Type AC or Type MC meeting the requirements of Section E3908.8.

E3902.16 Arc-Fault Protection of Bedroom Outlets

AMENDMENT
This section has been amended at the state or city level.
Branch circuits that supply 120-volt, single phase, 15-ampere and 20-ampere outlets installed in bedrooms shall be protected by any of the following:
  1. A listed combination-type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed to provide protection of the entire branch circuit.
  2. A listed branch/feeder-type AFCI installed at the origin of the branch-circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit. The first outlet box in the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet of the circuit.
  3. A listed supplemental arc protection circuit breaker installed at the origin of the branch circuit in combination with a listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet box on the branch circuit where all of the following conditions are met:

    1. The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.
    2. The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.
    3. The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the circuit.
  4. A listed outlet branch-circuit type arc-fault circuit interrupter installed at the first outlet on the branch circuit in combination with a listed branch-circuit overcurrent protective device where all of the following conditions are met:

    1. The branch-circuit wiring shall be continuous from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the outlet branch-circuit arc-fault circuit interrupter.
    2. The maximum length of the branch-circuit wiring from the branch-circuit overcurrent device to the first outlet shall not exceed 50 feet (15.2 m) for 14 AWG conductors and 70 feet (21.3 m) for 12 AWG conductors.
    3. The first outlet box on the branch circuit shall be marked to indicate that it is the first outlet on the circuit.
    4. The combination of the branch-circuit overcurrent device and outlet branch-circuit AFCI shall be identified as meeting the requirements for a system combination-type AFCI and shall be listed as such.
  5. Where metal outlet boxes and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT, Type MC or steel-armored Type AC cables meeting the requirements of Section E3908.8, metal wireways or metal auxiliary gutters are installed for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed branch-circuit type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit.
  6. Where a listed metal or nonmetallic conduit or tubing or Type MC cable is encased in not less than two inches (50.8 mm) of concrete for the portion of the branch circuit between the branch-circuit overcurrent device and the first outlet, a listed outlet branch-circuit type AFCI installed at the first outlet shall be considered as providing protection for the remaining portion of the branch circuit.
Exception: AFCI protection is not required for an individual branch circuit supplying only a fire alarm system where the branch circuit is wired with metal outlet and junction boxes and RMC, IMC, EMT or steel-sheathed armored cable Type AC, or Type MC meeting the requirements of Section E3908.8.

E3902.17 Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications

Where branch-circuit wiring is modified, replaced, or extended in any of the areas specified in Section E3902.16, the branch circuit shall be protected by one of the following:
  1. A combination-type AFCI located at the origin of the branch circuit
  2. An outlet branch-circuit type AFCI located at the first receptacle outlet of the existing branch circuit. [210.12(B)]
Exception: AFCI protection shall not be required where the extension of the existing conductors is not more than 6 feet (1.8 m) in length and does not include any additional outlets or devices. [210.12(B) Exception]

Related Code Sections


Section E3902 Power and Lighting Distribution, Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection
All 125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in bathrooms shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel ...
2012 Virginia Residential Code > 39 Power and Lighting Distribution > E3902 Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection
Section E3902 Power and Lighting Distribution, Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection
125-volt, single-phase, 15- and 20-ampere receptacles installed in bathrooms shall have ground-fault circuit-interrupter protection for personnel ...
2015 Virginia Residential Code > 39 Power and Lighting Distribution > E3902 Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection
E3902.17 Power and Lighting Distribution, Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications
be protected by one of the following: A combination-type AFCI located at the origin of the branch circuit An outlet branch-circuit type AFCI located ...
2015 Virginia Residential Code > 39 Power and Lighting Distribution > E3902 Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection > E3902.17 Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications
E3902.13 Power and Lighting Distribution, Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications
be protected by one of the following: A combination-type AFCI located at the origin of the branch circuit An outlet branch-circuit type AFCI located ...
2012 Virginia Residential Code > 39 Power and Lighting Distribution > E3902 Ground-Fault and Arc-Fault Circuit-Interrupter Protection > E3902.13 Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter Protection for Branch Circuit Extensions or Modifications
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